Women's Rugby World Cup: Portia Woodman slams scheduling

Portia Woodman helped her self to four tries against the USA before questioning the scheduling of the Women's Rugby World Cup. Photo / Photosport.nz

Kaikohe's Portia Woodman has hit out at the scheduling after her four-try effort in the Women's Rugby World Cup semifinals.

Woodman continued her blistering tournament as the unbeaten Black Ferns powered past the USA 45-12, but now the side has just a five-day turnaround before the final.

She said they would be focused on recovery because of the short time between fixtures.

"I think a lot of the next couple of days will be around recovery because it's such a short turnaround," Woodman said.

"It's going to be legs up, compressions on, icing knees, doing everything we need to do so I don't think we'll be getting out and about.

"I'd like to see the men try to do a tournament like this. They probably wouldn't handle it as well as we do. If possible it would be great to get a few days extra so we can have more recovery days."

New Zealand will take on England in the final after they accounted for France 20-3.

Woodman was the star of the show for the Black Ferns while fellow Northlander Victoria Subritzky-Nafatali also got on the scoresheet.

Woodman came up with a sublime solo effort in the first half, brushing off four defenders on route to the tryline.

She backed that up with three tries in the second spell, taking her tournament tally to 13.

The 26-year-old said while they didn't get off to the best start, they fought strongly in the second stanza.

"We knew with the USA they'd be a tough side, especially in a semifinal," she said.

"We had to bring it in the first half but we didn't really do it, especially in the first 20 minutes, so when they scored on us we combined together and got it right.

"Once we got our set-piece going and spread it to the backline the gaps opened up.

"It's pretty cool. It's wasn't until the final whistle went and you look around and think 'oh my goodness we're actually in the final'. Back home the girls work full time around their rugby, it's pretty incredible to know little old New Zealand can get to another final."

The Black Ferns once again showed they could more than cope with a player in the sinbin after veteran loose forward Linda Itunu was shown yellow shortly after coming off the bench.

Woodman said losing Itunu galvanised the team.

"We try not to panic, even when we have a player sent off. We get together, get tighter and work harder," she said.

"We shouldn't have to wait for that yellow card to come to work harder but it just happens."

Their focus shifts to England now and with the limited time between the semifinal and the final, the Black Ferns are straight into their work.

"Our goal was to get to the final and we can tick that off, but we still have one more job to do," she said.

"We have to get home, recover, do some review and review whoever we are up against."

England have the unenviable task of mitigating Woodman and on current form, you would be backing Woodman's corner on Sunday morning.